It’s true that many filmmakers make their first short film before the age of 25, but few get to cast legendary actors, and even fewer depict the renouncement of the luxuries of life while under the patronage of a luxury jeweller. Bespoke sought out Abdullah Al Ka’abi to find out how he did it.
For years, Cartier’s ethos of corporate social responsibility has expressed itself in charity initiatives and its dedicated support of fledgling women entrepreneurs. Cartier also has a longstanding relationship with contemporary art by encouraging talented artists on an international level through ‘Le Foundation Cartier pour l’art Contemporain’, established over 20 years ago, giving artists a platform to express their creativity with boldness and autonomy. Its annual 2 million USD sponsorship has set a precedent in France and remains an unmatched form of corporate philanthropic patronage of the arts until this very day.
Louis Ferla, managing director of Cartier Middle East & India asserts that, “Cartier sees itself as part of the community and it’s only normal that it should make a contribution by giving something back. This value is central to Cartier’s culture of generosity. And we strongly believe that art, creativity and excellence are the cornerstones to success. And Abdullah Al Ka’abi is a wonderful example of a young pioneer with great ambitions in the world of cinema.”
As you may have deduced by now, Abdullah Al Ka’abi’s debut short film, ‘The Philosopher’, was supported by The House of Cartier, which has also been a benefactor for various film festivals over the years, by awarding trophies to talented filmmakers, who are pushing the boundaries and making a difference in their fields. The prestigious jeweller and watchmaker, famed for dressing royalty, was key to Ka’abi’s triumph and the belief that Dubai is a viable and vibrant place for the film industry.
Ka’abi was awarded support from Cartier’s foundation to turn his vision of what he considers “the philosopher inside each one of us” into film. In this existential story, (an adaptation of a short by British novelist, Charlie Fish), the protagonist is a successful sportsman, pianist, and even martial artist, who shuns all worldly possessions in order to engage in precisely that philosophical perspective, a journey of contemplation. The film, which was the centrepiece of the Dubai International Film Festival 2010, was also well received at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York and the London International documentary film festival, as well as at more than thirty international film festivals this year. Beyond putting Ka’abi’s name on the map and global film circuit, the young filmmaker has shown how the region’s burgeoning directors can compete on the international film market at the level of cultural creativity and with far reaching influences.
“I chose Jean Reno because he was actually one of the actors I was thinking about when writing this film,” Ka’abi explains, who also said that he has wanted to be a filmmaker for as long as he could remember, avidly dissecting films in his hometown of Fujairah, from Bollywood to old Egyptian films. This filmmaker and former presenter on Dubai TV, who later acquired a Master’s degree in film in Paris, was only 23-years-old when shooting began. Not only that but it is said that this was the most expensive short film produced in Europe last year. Nonetheless, the partnership was definitely a fruitful one and now Ka’abi is preparing for his feature film, entitled ‘Culture Shock’, which will also star Jean Reno.
“Jean is more than an actor to me,” Ka’abi confesses, “He is a friend and a mentor both on and off the camera.” Set between Paris and the Emirates, his new film, like ‘The Philosopher’, will aim at deconstructing stereotypes in relation to the wealth of those who hail from the Gulf. As Ka’abi puts it, “It’s a theme that in my opinion, many in our region can relate to. It’s just an answer to the common phrase I hear when I meet someone new for the first time abroad: ‘You’re Emirati? So you must be rich!’” But this new screenplay is a love story, where a French woman pursues an Emirati, mistakenly believing that he is affluent.
Cartier has shown through Ka’abi’s success story its continuing commitment to fostering cinematic and artistic talent in the Emirates and the Gulf region. The experience has obviously been rewarding on both sides: “The team behind Cartier have been too good to me,” Ka’abi says, “And I am looking forward to further successful collaborations with Cartier”. Too good to be true? It seems that the expertise and insight the House of Cartier has dedicated to its timepieces is spilling over, right on schedule, from charity and feminine-centred philanthropy to supporting artists who otherwise would not have had such an opportunity. ‘The Philosopher’ sends out a message to young cultural producers in the region that anything is possible, and it also shows that there is no limit to the Middle Eastern talent pool.
